THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN MOONS

Part IV

Isabela and Juan

Chapter 18

The train taking Isabela to Santiago left Arica at 8:00 p.m. She occupied an individual cabin in the first class. The mistress of Sierra Negra enjoyed all the possible comforts that, at that time, the railroad, owned by an English company, could provide. Nevertheless, it was a long and tiresome trip. It took about thirty-six hours to arrive at the Chilean capital. Isabela got off the train a little after sundown and took a coach to the General Hospital of Neuropsychiatry. Her sister was waiting in her private office on the second floor. They made themselves comfortable in two chairs, side by side and, after the usual greetings, Cristina said:

- Isabela, your message left me concerned. Are you feeling something that may suggest some neurological or psychiatric disturbance ?

- I don't know, sister, it is up to you to find out.

- Then tell me what is happening, in every details. And Isabela did. She spoke for over an hour, omitting nothing.

Cristina listened in silence, looking straight at Isabela's eyes, absorbing each detail. When the speech finished, Isabela asked:

- What do you make of all this ?

- A fantastic story that is impressing you deeply.

- Do I have any brain disease or am I becoming crazy?

Cristina contemplated the sister for some time and said:

- Madness certainly you don't have, since, when awake, you have no hallucinations. I also don't believe that any cerebral lesion could justify your incredible dreams - and pointing to a small bed to the side, Cristina continued:

- But we will see. Undress and lie down there. Let us have a neurological examination.

When it was over and Isabela had already dressed, Cristina sat down and spoke:

- I didn't find anything that might suggest lesion in your brain. Also, in the medical literature doesn't exist any serious information regarding the meaning of dreams. Honestly, Isabela, I don't know what to say to help you.

Isabela sat beside her sister and said:

- Well, if I don’t have any cerebral lesion and if medical science is not able to supply any information regarding what is happening, don't you think it valid for me to seek aid from other sources?

Cristina raised the eyebrow and asked:

- Such as ?

Then Isabela told what she had read on spiritism, karma and reincarnation and mentioned the Hindu Buddhist she intended to see in Valparaiso. Cristina listened quietly and said:

- I understand very little on those subjects and I don't know if that Hindu woman can help you or not. But, in the absence of other possibilities, I think you have nothing to lose by going to her. And I know that, if I were facing what you are facing, I would try any thing that, eventually, could bring some light on these dreams and on that obsessive attraction for Juan Pablo.

One hour later, Isabela was again in a train. This time, on the way to Valparaiso, where she was supposed to arrive around noon.

* * *

From the railway station, Isabela proceeded by coach to the address of the Hindu. It was located in a poor neighborhood on the periphery of the city. The place was an old house, Spanish style. On the front, right bellow the tiles of the ceiling, it was written, in wide red letters: Buddhist Center Of Valparaiso. Isabela knocked on the door.

* * *

The door opened and a young girl, dressing a white silk sari, appeared. She joined the hands in front of the chest and curved the body in the traditional gesture of peace. Then, signed at Isabela to enter into a little room, looking like a lobby, and said, smoothly:

- Welcome to our humble temple. How I can help you ?

Isabela answered: - I wish to consult with Madame Vanayama. Today, if possible. I come from very far away, from the north of the country and I´m seeking help from her.

- She is, at the moment, having the afternoon prayers, but I will consult her about your request.

- Thank you.

The girl made an affirmative gesture with the head and said:

- Then, please wait. - and pointing to a rustic chair : - Be kind to sit down. I won't take long.

And disappeared behind a curtain. A few minutes later she returned and said:

- She will receive you now. Please, accompany me.

The young girl moved away the curtain, made a gesture with the hand and Isabela entered the other room.

***

A tall woman, extremely lean, looking between thirty five and forty years old, with dark skin and an exotic beautiful face, also wearing a white sari, was seated behind a small table, on which where displayed a crystal ball, a package of cards and a book that seemed to be an astrological table. She smiled and without rising, pointed to a chair, in front of her and said, in a melodic Spanish that didn't hide a foreign accent:

- Sit down, please.

Isabela obeyed and, for a long second, they stared at each other. Then the Hindu spoke:

- What brings you to our temple, lady....

- Isabela Cervantes.

- My name is Indira Vanayama, but I rather have people call me just Indira. Could I call you Isabela ?

The other nodded.

- Then, my daughter - Indira said, making herself comfortable in the chair and resting the hands on the table - tell me about the torture of your dreams.

Isabela felt a chill travel across her body. How could that woman know that her problems had to do with dreams? She took a deep breath and, in a slow voice, told everything, in the minimal details, without being interrupted. When she finished the Hindu asked:

- Do you have the data on your birthday and those of young Juan Pablo?

Isabela said when and where she had been born and, removing from the bag the paper with the Juan´s data, passed it to Indira. The Buddhist opened her astrological table and began to scratch out lines on a pad. For almost an hour, she concentrated on her work, while Isabela watched fascinated, the other woman tracing lines and symbols with a feather pen wet with ink. When she finished the birth charts of Juan and Isabela, Indira stayed, for a long time, comparing them. Then she closed the eyes and remained quite immobile for many minutes, absorbed in deep thoughts. Finally, she opened the eyes, stared at Isabela and said, in her low and musical voice:

- It is fantastic. I never before came across such an astrological synchrony. You and the young man are, doubtless, interlaced in a wet traced by destiny. Your impression was correct. The last time the two of you incorporated in this planet, you were Michelle and Juan was Pierre. And, when you died, a karmic debt remained to be rescud in a next existence. And that is why, at the present, your lives have crossed again.

While Isabela, with the mouth half-opened and extremely pale, looked intensely at the Hindu, Indira picked a deck of cards, shuffled it seven times and ordered:

- Close your eyes and pull out three of those cards.

Isabela obeyed and then opened the eyes. Indira turned the cards, following the sequence picked by Isabela and disposed them, side by side: the first was the queen of diamonds, the third, the jack of hearts and, between the two, the ace of spades.

- What does that mean ? - inquired Isabela, looking at the cards with a mix of fear and fascination.

- It means that the karmic impasse of love and hate that the two of you brought from the past won't be solved in the present existence.

- Why? If we become lovers, what would impede us from reaching an understanding in this life?

Indira looked deep inside the other woman eyes and answered:

- Death, Isabela, Death.

- What do you mean? Whose death? Can’t it be avoided?

The Hindu shook her head.

- I‘m sorry, what is traced by destiny can hardly be avoided. But the master of all masters, the one you call God, granted us the right of free will. When exercised with great faith, this powerful force can, eventually, modify what has been written by fate. If you and Juan are capable, through love, and I mean, real love, to overcome the hate your soul is carrying, Isabela, then, perhaps, the impasse can still be solved in this life time. Otherwise, both will continue tied by the invisible threads of destiny and the karma shall accompany you two, inexorably, to the next existence.

Indira rose, signaling that the encounter was finished. Isabela also rose and in a voice tone that didn’t hide a strong emotion, said:

- Your words make me foresee a lot of pain and sadness. Nevertheless, I am grateful for your sincerity. At least, I have now some idea on what is happening and what to expect. I am not sure Juan’s faith and mine are strong enough to alter what seems unalterable. Nevertheless, I will try. Once again, thank you very much. I

sabela made a pause, hesitated for a moment and asked, lowering the tone of her voice:

- How much do I owe you ?

Indira gave two steps forward, put the hands on Isabela’s shoulder and, with a trace of sadness in the eyes, answered:

- Nothing, my daughter. Good luck and that the Almighty be with you.

One hour later Isabela began the long return trip to Sierra Negra.

*****

Chapter 19

Isabela arrived at the farm in the evening. After certifying that Juan Pablo had also returned from Santiago, she went up to her bedroom. Extremely tired, not only for the long journey, but, mainly, due to the stress caused by Indira’s revelations, Isabela took a lukewarm bath, went to bed and slept for more than nine hours. If there were dreams, they were not registered. She woke up physically invigorated and resolved to alter the determinism that destiny wanted to impose upon her. One hour later, already in the office, Isabela sent for Juan Pablo. He appeared within a few minutes, cheerful and smiling as always. At the sight of him, her heart accelerated. Avoiding to look straight at his eyes, she said:.

- We will resume the inspections today. This time we will visit the orchards in the forest, at the eastern extremity of the farm.

- Yes, my lady. Any time you wish.

Encouraged by his words, Isabela raised the head and glanced at the deep black eyes. She felt an almost unbearable desire to throw herself into the arms of the young peon. It seemed that her attraction for him had become stronger than ever. She sighed deeply and taught: "Control yourself, Isabela. Now is not the right moment and the office is not the appropriate place. Later, among the leafy trees ...then, yes"

Isabela diverted the glance and moved the thoughts away.

- Make arrangements so that we leave as soon as possible.

- Yes, lady. Juan turned and left.

Isabela rose, walked to the window and followed the figure of the peasant moving away in the direction of the coach house. Then she left the office, went upstairs, told Maiara to arrange a snack for two and entered her bedroom, in order to change into proper closes for the romantic journey she had in mind.

***

They left before nine o'clock. Both were in the front part of the cart, Juan controlling the reins with the usual ability and Isabela, by his side, carrying, on the lap, the basket containing the snack, carefully prepared by the cook of the mansion. They didn't talk much during the trip, just superficial comments about life in the farm. Once in a while, the balancing of the little coach made their shoulders touch. Whenever this happened, Isabela‘s body shuddered and, without her knowing it, Juan answered to the touch with varied degrees of erection. When they arrived at the forest, the eyes of Isabela started to seek, among the gigantic trees, a place in the grass, proper for extending a towel, where the snack could be put and where they could lie down. Her determination of seducing the young peasant was stronger than ever. Actually, Isabela’s intuition was dictating that, if she didn't give her body and virginity to Juan on that day, she would never do it at another time. If love didn't sprout now, to squeeze the hate, then it would dominate their lives, the nightmares would be back and, as Indira had foreseen, death would come at the end, transferring to another time, in an uncertain future, the ransom of the karma contracted in the past.

Finally, Isabela´s eyes came across the place she was looking for: among two immense oaks, an empty space, covered by low grass, several meters from the road. She turned to Juan and said, pointing to the place:

- Let us stop over there for a snack.

The cart stopped and they went to the place, extended a towel and deposited on it the contents of the basket. Then, for a brief moment, they stood up, facing each other. Isabela, without saying a word, approached Juan, so that their bodies touched. He felt the nipples of her breasts getting rigid against his chest. She felt the erection of his member rubbing between her thighs. Trembling, but determined, Isabela put her arms around Juan’s neck and kissed him in the mouth. First it was a dry kiss with closed mouths. But, soon, their lips parted and their tongues met, eagerly. Juan took Isabela by the waist and started dragging her to the ground. Within seconds, he was lying on top of her. Slowly, the fingers of his right hand began to caress her breasts, while the other hand moved inside her skirt, searching for the vagina. When Juan’s fingers reached the clitoris, she let go a groan, and her right hand moved between his legs, the fingers grabbing the rigid penis. In a series of fast and smart movements, without stopping to caress Isabela’s clitoris, Juan got rid of the boots, lowered his own pants, moved Isabela’s panty to the side and, taking his member with the left hand, tried the penetration. Isabela felt the pressure of the penis against the hymen. A sudden and inexplicable fright invaded her mind, overcoming the desire that seemed to be dominating her entire self. In an abrupt gesture of the hand, she moved away his penis, closed the legs, rolled to the side and got up. Amazed and dominated by a excitement he had never felt before, Juan also rose and tried to pull the woman again to the ground. Isabela got rid of his grip, moved away from him and ran toward the chart. Juan followed, but, before he could catch her, she shook the head, extended the palm of the hand to stop him and said, giving to the voice an authority tone:

- Stop Juan. I know that it was all my fault, but something very strong inside of me impeded me of continuing.

He stopped and, with an air of confusion printed in the face, asked:

- But why ?

- I don't know for sure, but I just couldn’t go ahead.

Still without understanding Isabela’s paradoxical reactions, he sat down in the ground and held the head between his hands, in a gesture of despair and capitulation. Isabela contemplated the young man for a long time and, afterwards, sat down beside him. They remained in silence for a few minutes and then she spoke:

- Juan, I know you must be quite confused by the whole situation. As I also know that I owe you an explanation for having seduced you. Actually, it is all very strange. I don't get to understand it myself, as I’m not sure that you will.

Juan moved the hands from the head, turned the eyes toward her and said:

- I can be just an illiterate peasant, but I am not stupid. Please, lady, speak what you have to say. Perhaps that reduces my confusion.

Isabela diverted the glance to avoid the temptation that his eyes caused upon her. She exhaled a long sigh and said:

- Very well. Hear me with attention. It is a long history, but I’m going to tell you everything, in the simplest way I possibly can.

Juan accommodated himself against the wheel of the chart.

- Please, Dona Isabela, go ahead. She nodded and began.

The mistress of Sierra Negra spoke for over one hour. And related everything: the dreams and nightmares, her anxieties, of being a virgin, the mysterious attraction she felt for him and the strange interview with Indira. After finishing, she asked:

- Did you understand?

- I think so. But I am very confused about having lived another life before. At the church I used to go in my childhood, the priest always said that that business of our soul returning to earth inside another body was nonsense, an invention of spiritualistic people.

Isabela made an agreement gesture.

- I also had a strong Catholic education, but today, I have doubts. Perhaps reincarnation and karma do exist. How else to explain the dreams, that strange attraction that impels me to you and all the things I heard from the Buddhist woman?

Juan looked at her and said, with his habitual frankness:

- With due respect, D. Isabela, I’m also virgin, as I never went to the bed with any woman, but I felt a strong attraction for you, from the first moment we met and, since then, I spend all my time thinking about your face and your body.

Isabel trembled, diverted the glance, got up and said:

- What you say confuses me even more, Juan. I need time to think. When I get everything straight in my head, perhaps we can see each other again. Until then, I think it better we avoid any encounter.

Juan also rose and said:

´Perhaps it is better that I leave the farm and go seek employment somewhere else.

Isabela shook the head with vehemence.

- Please, no. Although I feel we should avoid seeing each other, I wish to know you are close by. That may sound egoistic, but I beg you to stay in Sierra Negra, at least until my thoughts get cleared. Tomorrow I’ll order Tobias to divert you for other activities.

Isabela got inaide the chart.

- Let us go back to the mansion - she made a pause and, blushing. finished: - And please, Juan, I beg you not to talk to anybody about what happened here today.

He sat at the coachman's place, beside Isabela and said, with honesty:

- Do not worry. I swear by my mother’s soul that I’ll never say a single word about what happened between us. I rather die than betray your trust.

The eyes of Isabela got wet from emotion. Juan’s devotion was touching. The peon took the reins and whipped the horse lightly. And the cart began to roll toward the area where the mansion was located.

*****

Chapter 20

Back in the office, Isabela called Tobias and told him, without giving any explanation, that, for the time been, she would not be using Juan as her cart driver. Therefore, he should be immediately transferred to other functions in the farm.

Afterward, she tried to concentrate on problems related to the administration of Sierra Negro, in an attempt to forget the events of that morning. When the night descended, Isabela went up to her room, bathed and, soon after, lying in bed, she began to question why she detained Juan in the exact moment he was going to penetrate her, if that was precisely what she had been deeply desiring for such a long time. Why did she pull back at the decisive moment? Why didn’t she allow love to flourish? Was the hate her soul brought from the past so powerful as to prevail over love and the instinct of survival? Anyway, the truth was that she was incapable to exercise the powerful personal force of free will, perhaps the only thing that could, as Indira indicated, modify what had been written by destiny. She had been weak and frightened and, as a result of her failure, death might come for her, for Juan or, most probably, for both.

With a long sigh the mistress of Sierra Negra decided that she had to try again and that failure could not be repeated. Love must overcome hate! And with that determination dominating her mind, Isabela dove in a deep sleep. And. around dawn. the sexual dream came and, with it, the orgasm she had refused to have with Juan in the vigil state, on the previous day.

***

On the following morning, Isabela summoned Tobias to the office and asked about Juan.

- As you ordered yesterday - the foreman answered - we gave him another function. So, early today, I dispatched Juan to the villa of Pasagua, driving a coach full of starch and vegetables.

Isabela tried to hide her deception.

- Very well. When is he supposed to be back?

- Tomorrow, before sunrise. Do you want him to do some thing special when he is back?

sabela tried to disguise, assuming an unpretentious air.

- Perhaps, I'm not sure yet. Any way, as soon as Juan returns, tell him to come and see me here, at the office, around eight o'clock.

Tobias made a mention as if he was going to make some comment, but changed his mind and said:

- Yes, lady. Any thing else ?

Isabela looked at him.

- No, Tobias, that's all by now.

The foreman nodded and left the office. Again alone, the mistress of Sierra Negra spoke to herself: "Tomorrow, my dear Juan, tomorrow we will possess each other and love will prevail over hate". Soon after, she gave Rosana a few instructions and left the mansion in the direction of the stable. Fifteen minutes later, Isabela was ridding, wandering about the fields of the farm, wrapped in her own erotic thoughts and feeling the pleasant sensation of the wind against the face.

* * *

Sierra Negra embraced an enormous area that had as center the main house. Immediately around it, were the workers' homes, lodgings and small houses, for those who had a family, as well as for the better positioned in the farm’s hierarchy, like the foreman, Rosana and the teacher who directed the small school for the children and the illiterate adults. Then, came the agricultural area, where starches and vegetables were planted. Surrounding them, the pastures for the cattle. Beyond, at the eastern periphery, there were the forests of fruitful trees and, on the opposite side, at the western periphery, came the mountainous zone, with the rocks, from where were extracted the ores of high value in the international market, like copper, tin and silver.

Nelita Gomes was part of the group of young people in charge of planting and cropping the starches and the vegetables. Daughter of a Peruvian woman of Inca origin and of a white man of Iberian blood, who also worked in the farm, she was a youth of rare beauty, in the splendor of her eighteen year of age, and whose glance seemed to be always loaded with lust. When Juan appeared in Sierra Negra, she started making advances at him, first in a discreet way; later, more openly, in a clear act of seduction. For three times she had dragged Juan into the forests, trying to seduce him with kisses and provocative caresses. But they never reached the point of making love, since the peasant, although answering to Nelita’s lust with desire and visible erections, had always restrained her, not only for fear of eventual complications, but also because, every time he thought of going all the way, the image of Isabela came to mind and cooled his ardor.

* * *

Having heard from a peasant that Juan would be back from Pasagua on the following dawn, Nelita decided to wait for him at the entrance of the farm. As, most probably, nobody would be there at that hour, she was counting on taking him into the forest and seduce him in such a way that love-making would be inevitable This time, she was really decided to put an end to her virginity and that of Juan, who, in one of their previous stealthy encounters, admitted that he never had totally possessed a woman.

Thus, when Juan arrived at the entrance of the farm, at dawn, around three in the morning, the temptress Nelita jumped inside the coach, sat down by his side and, without wasting a single minute, began to caress his penis, while convincing him to take the coach into the closest forest. Taken by surprise and moved by the excitation she was producing on him, Juan, now in full erection, did not resist and, soon, the coach got into the forest and was swallowed by darkness.

But very few things happened in Sierra Negra without Tobias being aware of. Therefore, not only was he informed of the previous encounters between Juan and Nelita, but also knew that the young woman would be waiting for the peasant, on his arrival from Pasagua: Nelita, in her impulsiveness, had mentioned the fact to a friend, without knowing that she had become one Tobias’s informers. The foreman had nothing against Nelita, but intend to discover, through her, some stupid act that Juan might eventually do, thus becoming susceptible to punishment. And now, it looked like the chance Tobias had been waiting for, was about to happen. Therefore, he was attentive and awaiting. So, as soon as the coach disappeared in the woods, the foreman, accompanied by Ortega, followed short. They advanced quietly, sliding among the trees, in search of the couple. It did not take long to discover them. Juan and Nelita were lying on the grass, exchanging caresses, while undressing. Frustrated by the experience with Isabela, Juan decided that, this time, he was going to give in to the impulses of Nelita. With determination, he tore the girl's panty, who moaned from excitement and expectation, opened her the legs and got ready to penetrate her. Tobias and Ortega, that were observing everything, hidden behind the thick log of a leafy tree, decided that was the time for intervening. They left the hiding place and, with two wide steps, jumped on Juan, removing him from the top of Nelita. Tobias ordered the girl to go away, which she, scared like hell, obeyed without hesitation. Juan was tied with cords, thrown in the back of the coach and taken to the room of punishments. Soon after, naked down to the waist, he was violently whipped fifteen times by a happy and smiling Tobias. Afterwards, the foreman and his companion left Juan fallen in the ground, bleeding and embittering the pain and the humiliation.

* * *

A little after eight o'clock, Isabela, firmly resolved to impel the wheel of her karmic destiny, summoned the foreman to the office and went straight to the subject:

-Tobias, I changed my mind in relation to Juan Pablo. I want him to be my driver again. So, tell him to get the cart ready, as I intend to leave within half an hour, to retake the inspections.

The foreman was not also for circumlocutions:

- That won't be possible. For some days, our peasant won't be in condition of executing any kind of work.

Isabela raised the eyes, surprised.

- Why not ?

- He was whipped fifteen times, a little before dawn.

Her face blushed with rage.

- Why?

- For being caught making sex in the woods with a servant of the farm. The employees' regulation determines this type of punishment for acts of this nature.

The face of Isabela changed from blush to paleness. She was taken by a devastating feeling of betrayal. An intense hate started filling her heart. A hate far superior of her love. She reclined in the back of the chair and made a gesture for the foreman to sit down in another chair facing her desk. He made himself comfortable and waited. In a cold voice, that Tobias had never heard before, Isabela ordered:

- Tell me everything that happened, in the minimal details.

Gladly, the foreman obeyed. When he finished, Isabela stared at him. It was a glance so frozen that even the hard Tobias felt his legs tremble a little bit. Very slowly, she said:

- The punishment was too small for the dirt procedure of that bastard peasant. Go back there and whip him fifteen more times. Now!

Tobias rose, smiled intimately and asked:

- And what should I do to Juan later? Dismiss him?

Isabela shook the head.

- No, we will keep him here. To clean the stables of the horses and the fences of the pigs. That will be a very appropriatejob for him: to wallow in the mud and in the dirt. And punish him, severely, whenever he practices any act that justifies punishment.

Then she rose and, in the same frozen tone, said:

- Now, leave me alone, Tobias. I have more important subjects to take care of.

After the foreman had exited, the mistress of Sierra Negra sat down again and, for a long time, stayed immobile, thinking about the betrayal of the peasant, whose body she had wanted so much and, how to deny it? she still wanted. Deception and sadness took care of her mind and of her heart. Slowly, however, they were giving room to a strange sensation of indifference, a kind of mental anesthesia in relation to her feelings for Juan Pablo. And, from that night on, Isabela did not experience any of the dreams that either tormented her or took her to the ecstasy of orgasm. As it was happening during day time, her sleeping hours became, also, totally empty of any kind of emotion. Just indifference remained now, not only for her former almost lover, but for everything surrounding her. She felt as if her body had been deprive of a soul. Without being conscious of it, Isabela was starting to get into a depressive state.

Through the dark pathway of jealousy, hate had prevailed over love. And the shadow of death was starting to extend its shade over the land of Sierra Negra.

*****

Chapter 21

On the following two months, Juan wallowed in the mud and in the dirt, cleaning the horse stables and the fences of the pigs. He labored from sunrise to the descent of night. Due to fatigue, he some times reduced the rhythm of work and lied down on the manure, for a few minutes. However, whenever caught resting, he got whipped. Also, no longer was he allowed to eat at the employees' refectory. Juan received only three scarce meals, which were given to him in lunch pails, by one of his unfailing watchers. At the end of each day, while resting in bed, he remained, for long a time, trying to figure out what crime he had committed to deserve so many mistreatments, until fatigue surpassed revolt and sleep brought a few hours of peace. Just once, Juan came across Isabela: it happened one morning, when she showed up at the stable, wearing horse-riding clothes. Without even looking at him, she had ordered, roughly:

- Peasant, saddle my horse and take it, immediately, to the front of mansion. Any delay will cost you punishment.

Soon after, Isabela left, beating a small whip against her tight.

That was when Juan Pablo decided to flee. His requests to leave the farm were systematically refused by Tobias. To escape would not be an easy task, since he was constantly watched during the day by one of the foreman's accomplices and the entrance and exit gates of Sierra Negra were permanently guarded by armed personnel, who would not hesitate to shoot the peasant that became a pursued pariah, for the simple reason of having wakened up the passion and, then, the incomprehensible hate of Isabela. Thus, the only way out was to escape through the mountainous zone and cross the desert of Atacama. From there, to try to reach one of the villas and hitch-hike a coach to Arica. The ideal time would be on a cold and rainy night, without moonlight. Not only that would make him less visible, but also the watchmen, because of the weather, would rather remain inside the watch towers than to patrol de area. The favorable occasion appeared some days later. On the night of July 12th, the moon stayed hidden by the heavy clouds that spilled a solid rain on the north of Chile. Around two in morning, just carrying a small backpack, containing water and some bread, Juan Pablo left the bedroom and, protected by darkness, crossed the area of the lodgings and went west. But he did not go far. When he was almost reaching the mountainous zone, one of Tobias´ men, who had been retarded by some extra hours of work in the mines, noticed a shadow sneaking out in the direction of the rocks. The watchman quickly raised his carbine and shot twice, arousing other vigilantes that, immediately, converged to the place. In a few minutes, Juan was surrounded, arrested, chained and taken to Tobias. The foreman, with a sardonic smile in the lips, slapped the peasant and said:

- So the little peasant was trying to flee, right ? Well, your son of a bitch, this time you’ll find out what real punishment means.

And addressing one of the men, ordered:

- Take this cretin to the desert and tie him to the log of a tree. We’ll see how long a bastard gets to survive without water and food.

Juan Pablo survived three days and three nights. On the morning of the fourth day, already in a stage of torpor, he finally realized the intensity of the injustice practiced by Isabela. And before entering into irreversible coma, Juan developed a deep hate for the only woman he had loved during his brief existence on Earth. And, when he died, the hate went with him to eternity.

*****

Chapter 22

In spite of the depressive state that, slowly, started to dominate her mind, Isabela forced herself to impulse the farm businesses. Although social gathering was a rare event in Sierra Negra, on that night Isabela was receiving, for dinner, two couples of neighboring farmers, in order to celebrate the conclusion of an agreement on cattle sale. Around 09:00 p.m., when the dessert was being served, Tobias appeared at the door of the dinning-room and made a discreet sign to his mistress. Isabela excused herself and went to the foreman. In a low tone, he informed her that Juan Pablo had passed away, sometime on the morning. Isabela turned pale, taken by a light sensation of vertigo and grabbed the portal for support. But she recovered fast and asked the foreman for details of the occurrence. He told everything. When Tobias finished, Isabela dismissed him and, in a paradoxical state of mixed satisfaction and sadness, retook her place at the table. For some time she remained silent and thoughtful. Suddenly, Isabela let go an almost hysterical laughter, stood up, raised the wine glass and said to her guests:

- Please, let us toast the end of a great hate.

Amazed, constrained and confused, they accompanied her, but soon after, as moved by a same thought, the visitors began saying good-bye to their hostess. In a few minutes, Isabela found herself alone. In an abrupt gesture, she threw the glass against the wall, left the place and went up stairs to her bedroom. There, totally undressed, she contemplated her own image in the mirror. Slowly, an expression of sadness took hold of her face and tears began to roll from the eyes. Next, she threw herself on the sheets and murmured, almost in a whisper:

- Now I no longer have whom to hate. - she made a pause and, taken by a deep feeling of loss and despair, finished the sentence: - But I also no longer have whom to love.

The tears increased till becoming a plentiful cry that made Isabela’s body tremble from feet to head. When the weeping finally ended, she turned off the light of the small lamp close to the bed, turned to her side and fell asleep. And dreamed, repeatedly, of the scene that Tobias's description had implanted into her imagination: Juan Pablo, tied to the log of a tree, the body bleeding from wounds inflicted by whipping, extending his arms to her, the index finger pointing, in an gesture of accusation. And, coming from the bottom of the peasant's throat, she heard, in the middle of the terrible nightmare, a voice whispering: "Why, Isabela, why?". Then, Juan’s head tumbled to the side, his eyes closed and he died.

On the following morning, Isabela didn't show up for breakfast. Maiara found her lying on her back, the immobile eyes fixed on some distant point at the ceiling, staring without seeing, answering nothing when requested. She didn’t eat or drink anything for the next twenty-four hours, indifferent to everything, including the smell of urine and feces that accumulated on the sheets. Maiara summoned two other maids and they washed Isabela’s body, who accompanied everything, without saying a single word, reacting to nothing. And the lips remained closed, impeding all attempts to feed her. On the second morning, as the situation didn’t change, Maiara informed Tobias, who was already concerned with Isabela withdrawal. He immediately called Don Diego Cervantes on the phone, describing what was happening. Isabela’s parents arrived in the middle of the afternoon and, scared by their daughter's condition, called Arica and asked the family’s doctor to come at once to the farm. In the evening, Dr. Iglesias, after proceeding to a long examination, declared that Isabela was in state of shock and deep depression and suffering from severe dehydration. A few hours later, two nurses arrived from Arica, equipped with serum and gastric tubes to feed the patient. Two days later, Cristina arrived from Santiago. Isabela’s clinical picture stayed unaffected, but was now worsened by a fever that insisted in resisting to the lukewarm baths that were constantly applied. Other specialists were brought from the capital and, after a lingering medical conference, they concluded that Isabela was in a state of serious melancholic depression, still dehydrated and, possibly, suffering from an infection of ignored cause. They tried bleedings, suckers, arnica and other treatments used at that epoch. All in vain: Isabela weakened by the minute, becoming semi-comatose, with an irregular and accelerated breathing. And she stayed like this for a long time.

However, in the morning of the tenth day, Isabela suddenly improved: she opened the eyes and, in an almost inaudible voice, requested the presence of her sister, insisting to speak with her alone. Cristina entered the room, sat beside the bed, caught the patient's almost squalid hand and said:

- I am here, by myself, as you requested.

Isabela turned the head to her siste and whispered:

- I know that I am about to die, Cristina, but that doesn't cause me fear.

The other meant to say some thing but Isabela stopped her with a gesture of the hand:

Please, sister, don't say anything, just hear. I want you to know what happened and why I am in this condition.

And, with great effort, in a low voice, Isabela told everything that happened, since her encounter with Indira up to the night she was informed of Juan’s death. Cristina heard without interrupting. When her sister finished, she commented:

- Isabela, you are surrendering emotionally. I can imagine the weight of your guilty, but why do you think your own death is the right solution? It is not. Ask forgiveness to the Lord. Pray for Juan, start some charity work on behalf of his soul, but go on living.

The interred eyes of Isabela landed in the sister's tearful eyes.

- My grief is too big to allow me to go on living. I have nothing else to do here,... on Earth. I am definitely convinced that Juan and I had met before, as Pierre and Michelle.

She paused, as if gathering forces to continue.

- Michelle’s premature death did not result from a deliberate act from Pierre. And his suffering was so immense that soon he followed her, hoping they would meet some other time, in another life.... to ask her forgiveness and to re-start their great love. Destiny gave us another chance and we met again, as Juan Pablo and Isabela.

Two tears rolled from the dimming eyes.

- But my soul did not possess the greatness of his soul. Hurt by the monster of jealousy, I let myself to be contaminated by an absurd hate and submitted a pure and sweet person to unjust and merciless punishments... And he died, not from an accident, but because of my hate.

Another pause. The breathing of Isabela began to fail. She took a deep breath and continued:

- No, sister, there is no way to go on living with such a terrible guilt. I have to go to him as he came to me. Juan tried to pay his karmic debt but I didn't allow that to happen. So, I must leave... now.....to seek for him... Somewhere.. in the future... we will be again face to face and, then, who knows? Love may prevail. Only by dying, Cristina, I may accomplish it...perhaps. I welcome death without fear.. since it is my only hope. Try to explain that to dad and mom... and ask them to forgive me, even if they do not understand.

She made a new pause and a sketch of a smile appeared in the already cyanotic lips. The voice became a difficult whisper and the eyes closed.

- I feel.. that ...my body... is cooling ...fast...and a.. black... blanket is descending upon me... .it is...... death.. arriving. I bless...it...

The head of Isabela tumbled to the side and Cristina noticed that her sister had stopped breathing. She thought about going to look for help, but, immediately, changed her mind. There was nothing effective do be done. Let Isabela go in search of her love and her destiny...

Second "Intermezo"

Again, one returns to the eternal emptiness, far beyond our universe, where time never changes and souls get ready to go back to Earth, in order to correct the mistakes of previous existences and, therefore, improve. A cycle that will repeat until each soul reaches the stage of essential spiritual maturity to allow its definitive integration into the Great Cosmic Energy. The soul of Juan Pablo reincarnated first. And, if one takes the Gregorian calendar as a reference of terrestrial time, Isabela’s soul returned eighteen years later. But, this time, they were not born in France or in Chile, but in Brazil, in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

*****

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